MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon Nazarene University wants to move ahead with an estimated $2 million project to convert the old Stage building on South Main Street into an arts and graduate studies center as soon as possible.

Dr. Daniel Martin, MVNU’s president, told City Council on Monday that university officials hope to begin construction this winter. Although he could not give a specific timetable at this point, he said there is a possibility the building will be occupied by spring 2009.

“There are a lot of ways we can partner with the community through this project,” Martin said.

He said the help of key donations from local organizations have enabled the university to move forward with the project. Martin said the university has worked with an architectural firm to create preliminary designs and graphic representations.

The plan is to make the first floor of the building an art gallery and a center for adult graduate studies. The second floor would have a variety of spaces for artists to pursue their creative endeavors; the third floor will be used for studios for senior students. Martin said there is additional space available in the basement, and sections of other floors can be used for other purposes such as office space.

“We think this would a tremendous benefit to downtown Mount Vernon,” he said.

Martin added that he has had at least two conversations with Central Ohio Technical College about possible partnership programs that might enable local residents to begin their education at COTC and complete their degree at MVNU. COTC’s local campus is also located on South Main Street.

Martin said MVNU plans to rent some parking spaces behind the Stage building and will also provide a shuttle service between the main campus and the South Main Street location. He said many of the classes at the center will be much longer than an average university class, and that traffic to and from the center should not lead to congestion in the downtown.